By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A pair of Lipscomb second-half scores spoiled the Tennessee Tech season-opening party as the Bisons split the pipes twice in the second on the way to a 2-0 victory Thursday night at Tech Soccer Field.
In a match that was delayed over 90 minutes just moments before kickoff due to weather, the two clubs went on to play a scoreless first stanza, largely in part to Tech's defense holding off a series of Lipscomb threats. The Bisons (1-0-0) came close to finding the back of the net, but the Golden Eagles stood tall when it mattered most, and behind four Maggie Conrad saves in the first, the match stayed knotted at nil-nil.
Tech (0-1-0) attempted a pair of first-half attempts thanks to tries on-goal by Tori Soutuyo and Anna Baker.
In the early stages of the second, Lipscomb struck first to unwrap the scoring, courtesy of an unassisted score by Hailey Johnson in the 56th minute. The junior out of Charlotte, N.C. found possession at the top of the box before breaking free and letting loose along the left side for the first goal of the season.
The Bisons doubled up the margin to go up 2-0 in the 78th minute after Annessa Shively capitalized on a redirection off a Golden Eagle that resulted in a score for the Lipscomb graduate student out of St. Louis, Mo.
The Bisons led the shot battle, 12-3. Johnson and Hailey Rhodes each paced the contest with three attempts a piece. Lucia Cuadra took Tech's lone shot in the second half.
Conrad ended up with five stops, while Lipscomb keeper Kaina Cesar denied three Golden Eagle bids for the clean sheet.
The Golden Eagles will now set their sights on the first road contest of the season with a Sunday-morning meeting at South Alabama on the books. Kickoff in Mobile is set for 11 a.m. CT.
Photo | Ben Craven
